Automatic safety-target



G. F. BRIGGS.

AUTOMATIC SAFETY TARGET.

APPLICATION FILED APR. H. 1920.

1,3485%; I dA g- 3, 192% ATTORNEY.

pairs GEORGE F. BRIGGS, OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS.

AUTOMATIC SAFETY-TARGET.

1,348,54ltl.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

' a target device which is simple in constructionand efficient in operation; that is well adapted for pistol and rifle practice, especially at short range; that will indicate with certainty whether or not the particular target aimed at has been hit; that will operate in such manner as to cause one or another of the targets always to be visible; and that will obstruct and receive all bullets aimed at the targets to prevent possible injury to surrounding objects or persons.

I attain these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in

which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete device, with its inclosing box or casing;

Fig. 2, a rear elevational view of the device removed from the box or casing; and

Fig. 3, a side elevational View of the de vice, viewed from the left-hand side of Fig. 2.

The target device may be used. without an inclosing box or casing, but the casing is of advantage for the purpose statedand I have shown the device, in Fig. 1, positioned in the casing 1 and visible through the open side 2 of the casing.

The target device comprises a plurality of targets, preferably arranged in pairs (3, 4),

of. circular or any other desired shape, each target being independently mounted upon a suitable support 10 by a pivotal connection. Preferably the, targets are attached to the support by. hinge members 5 arranged with their pivots in alinement, the individual targets being rilglidly attached in any suitable manner to t 0 front face of leaf 6 of the respective hinge members. Each target is formed of steel or other metal which is impenetrable by bullets and they are made suificiently heavy to have a tendency to retain their upright position when so placed and to fall with considerable force when struck by a bullet.

For convenience in removing or replacing the targets, they may be attached to the hinge members by means of screws or bolts, but where removability is not desired they may be riveted, or otherwise secured.

The targets are arranged in spaced relation, both for the purpose of permitting them to be readily distinguished and to enable them to properly coact with other parts of the invention to cause the automatic raising of one of the targets simultaneously or virtually simultaneously with the lowering of the other target. The target positioning means consists of a lever 7 pivotally mounted, as at 8, on the back of the support below the targets with its arms extending in a generally horizontal position.

the adjacent arm of lever 7 in the course of its downward path and forces said arm sharply downward to the a proximate position illustrated in Fig. 2. he opposite arm of the lever, by being thus sharply raised, exerts a quick and forcible upward thrust upon the target 4:, which in its down position was in engagement with said arm. This upward thrust elevates the target 4 and the target will remain elevated in its operative or visual position until it is in turn struck by abullet, whereupon the reverse operation is effected, the lowering of target & operating, through the agency of lever 7, to raise target 3 to operative position.

The box or casing may be made of heavy metal or rendered bullet-proof in any other desired manner, as, for example, by being lined inside or. out with an armor of some metal which is impenetrable by bullets.

I claim:

1. In a target device, a plurality of targets, each adapted to assume an inoperative and an operative position, and means separate from but adapted to be engaged by said targets whereby'the movement of one of said targets from operative to inoperative position causes another of said targets to move from inoperative to operative position,

2. In a target device, a plurality of targets, each adapted to assume an operative and an inoperative position, and means located in the path of movement of said targets and adapted to be engaged by a target in moving from operative to inoperative position to cause another of said targets'to move from inoperative to operative position.

3. In a target device, a plurality of targets, spaced from each other and mounted in horizontal alinement, each of said targets being movable from or to operative position, and means whereby the movement of one of said targets to inoperative position causes another of said targets to assume an operative position.

4. In a target device, a plurality of targets pivotally mounted in horizontal alinement, each target being freely movable about its/pivot independently of any other target, and means associated with said targets for causing the movement of a target to inoperative position to cause another target to assume an operative position. v

5. In a target device, a plurality of targets, each adapted to be thrown to an inoperative position and to be restored to an operative position, and targetrrestoring means adapted to be struck by a target passing to inoperative position and to throw another of said targets to operative position, whereby the movement of any of said targets to inoperative position causes another of the targets to move from inoperative to operative position.

6. In a target device, a plurality of targets, each of said targets being mounted upon a separate pivot, and means located in the path of movement of each of said targets about its pivot and adapted to be engaged by a target in assuming an inoperative position to bring another of said targets to operand operated by either of said targets in assuming an inoperative position, to cause another of said targets to assume an operative position,

8. A-target device comprising a plurality of targets, a support for said targets, means pivotally connecting each target to said support so that each target may assume a raised or operative position and a lowered or inoperative position, and a lever pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said support, said lever lying below said targets with one of its arms adjacent to and in the path of downward movement of each of the targets, the engagement of a lever arm by either of the targets, in falling to inoperative position, causing the opposite lever arm to throw its associated target to elevated or operative position.

9. A target device comprising an armored box or casing with an opening in one side thereof, a plurality of targets pivotally.

mounted within said casing and so positioned as to be visible through said opening, each of said targets being movable independently of the other, and means associated with said targets and operable by movement of a target from visible to invisible position to throw another target from invisible. to visible position.

GEORGE F. names. 

